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160 MEMORIAL DR, Cambridge, MA 02139

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Kendall Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts has been called “the most innovative square mile on the planet.” It's a life science hub as well as a major tech center. It boasts a dense concentration of startups, with leading venture capital firms conveniently located nearby. And of course, MIT is just down the block. Where Futures Converge offers the first detailed account of this unique ecosystem, chronicling the endless cycles of change and reinvention that have driven its evolution. Buderi takes readers on a walking tour of the square and talks to dozens of innovators, entrepreneurs, urban planners, historians, and others. He also considers Kendall Square's limitations—“gentrification gone rogue,” by one description, with little affordable housing, no pharmacy, and a scarce middle class—and its strengths: the “human collisions” that spur innovation. Buderi also speculates about the next big innovative enterprises and outlines lessons for aspiring innovation districts. More important, he explores how Kendall Square can be not only a hub of innovation, but also one of diversity, equity, and inclusion. There's a lot of work still to do.

This event is free but registration is required. MIT CovidPass or Tim Tickets with current attestation are required for admittance to this event. If you are not in the CovidPass system, please indicate that you are not a current MIT student or employee when you register and we will contact you with instructions.  Masks remain optional at MIT events, but the Institute strongly recommends wearing a high-quality mask at all indoor events. 

We are committed to making our events accessible; please email ce-lib@mit.edu to request accommodations.

About the author: Robert Buderi is an author, journalist, and entrepreneur. He is former Editor-in-Chief of Technology Review, founder of the media company Xconomy, and the author of Engines of Tomorrow, The Invention That Changed the World.

About the moderator: C.A. Webb, former President of the Kendall Square Association, has spent her career building community and technology platforms to enable connectivity and collaborative problem solving. Webb has been named “one of the 100 Most Influential People in Boston” by Boston Magazine and an “Innovation All Star” by the Boston Business Journal.

The authors@mit series is co-sponsored by the MIT Libraries, the MIT Press Bookstore, and MIT Press. Learn more about Where Futures Converge: Kendall Square and the Making of a Global Innovation Hub here.

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